diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index 90a796c7..9019ace9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           tar -xf protobuf.tar.gz
           cd ./protobuf-${{ needs.get-protobuf.outputs.version }}
-          USE_BAZEL_VERSION=5.4.0 BAZEL_CXXOPTS="-std=c++14" bazel build conformance:conformance_test_runner --toolchain_resolution_debug=@bazel_tools//tools/cpp:toolchain_type
+          USE_BAZEL_VERSION=6.3.0 BAZEL_CXXOPTS="-std=c++14" bazel build conformance:conformance_test_runner --toolchain_resolution_debug=@bazel_tools//tools/cpp:toolchain_type
 
       - name: Rename Binary
         run: |
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2060c3e6..b0df07fc 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ TMP   = .tmp
 BIN   = .tmp/bin
 UNAME_OS := $(shell uname -s)
 LICENSE_HEADER_YEAR_RANGE := 2023
-GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION = 24.4
+GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION = 25.0-rc2
 
 ifeq ($(UNAME_OS),Darwin)
 	PLATFORM := osx-x86_64